Pull tab mounting arrangement for easy opening can end

ABSTRACT

A pull tab mounting arrangement for an easy opening container of the type having a tear-out or removable panel portion defined by a score line. The pull tab includes a score line penetrating nose and is mounted for tilting movement on the removable panel portion about a rivet receiving attaching ear defined by a Ushaped lance. A dimple is formed in the removable panel portion and is disposed within opposing open end slots formed in the attaching ear and tab body on opposite sides of the lance whereby the dimple prevents rotation of the pull tab about the rivet so as to maintain the tab nose aligned with the score line.

United States Patent 1 lm'eflmr Klwurv' 3,450,300 6/1969 Saunders. 220/54 Worth, Ill. [2l 1 Appl No 861.650 Primary Examiner-George Tv Hall [22] Filed Sept 29 1969 Atto rneysFred P Kostka, Joseph E. Kerwin and William A. 451 Patented July 20, 197i Dmmann [73] Assignee Continental Can Company. Inc.

New York, N.Y.

{541 gggmgg gg gg sg FOR ABSTRACT: A pull tab mounting arrangement for an easy 3 Claims 4 Drawing Figs. opening container of the type having a tear-out or removable panel portion defined by a score line. The pull tab includes a [52] U.S. Cl 220/54 score li penetrating nose and is mounted f tilting move- Cl 365d 17/24 ment on the removable panel portion about a rivet receiving [50] Field of-Search 220/27, 54; attaching ear d fi d by a ushaped |ance A dimple is fo m d 215/46 A in the removable panel portion and is disposed within opposing open and slots formed in the attachin ear and tab bod on [56] References Cited opposite sides of the lance whereby the simple prevents rita- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion of the pull tab about the rivet so as to maintain the tab 3,366,270 1/1968 Khoury 220/54 nose aligned with the score line.

PATENTEUJULZOIBYI 3,593,877

IN VEN TOR NICK S. K HOURY ATT'Y.

I PULL TAB MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR EASY OPENING CAN END 1 The present invention relates to a new and useful improvements in easy opening container and more particularly to a pull tab mounting arrangement for improving the opening characteristics thereof.

Easy opening containers of the general type to which the present invention relates include an end closure formed with a score line to define a removable panel portion for tilting movement so that a nose on one end of the tab initially severs the score line. Thereafter, a pulling force is applied on the pull tab to completely separate the removable panel portion along the score line from the end unit and thereby provide an opening in the end closures.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the opening characteristics of the pull tab to initiate the severance'of the removable panel portion from the end unit.

This is accomplished by providing a mounting arrangement in which the pull tab nose is maintained in alignment with the score line. More specifically, the pull tab is mounted in a manner such that it is restrained against rotation to maintain the nose of the pull tab aligned with the score line so that upon initial tilting, the score line is severed by the tab nose.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a can end incorporating the improved pull tab mounting arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the pull tab mounted on the container and showing in particular the improved tab mounting arrangement incorporated in the tab ear and the removable panel portion of the can end;

FIG. 3 is a crosssectional view taken generally along the lines 33 of FIG. 1 and showing the pull tab in the normal nonuse position; and

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but showing the pull tab in an inclined position for initially severing the removable panel portion at the score line from the remainder of the end closure.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated an easy opening container which is illustrated as being in the form of a conventional type of can. The container 10 includes a can body 11 to which there is secured by means a double seam 12, a can end 13. The can end 13 includes an end panel 14 of which a major portion 15 thereof is removable. The removable panel portion 15 is defined by a peripheral score line 16.

In order to facilitate the rupture of the end panel 14 along the score line 16 and the tearing out of the removable panel portion 15, there is provided a pull tab 17. The pull tab 17 is made from a single piece of sheet metal and is fixedly secured to the removable panel portion 15 by means of a rivet 18 formed integral with the panel portion 15.

Generally, the pull tab includes a forward or nose portion 19 and a rear grip portion 20. The portions 19 and 20 are rigidly connected together by a transversed crossbar 22 which is common to both portions of the pull tab.

The grip portion 20 is in the form of a finger ring and has a finger receiving opening 22. The finger receiving opening 22 is defined by a downwardly and radially outwardly turned curl not shown and the outer periphery of the pull tab 17 is folded or curled to define a hem not shown. The hem cooperates with the curl to rigidify the grip portion 20 and at the same time to eliminate all exposed raw edges around the grip portion thereof both internally and externally as fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,366,270.

Ill

The forward portion or nose I9 is reinforced by an upstanding rib 23 which together with the crossbar 22 forms an encircling relnforcement. The nb 23 includes an upstanding inner flange 24 and an upper most horizontally disposed web 26 and a peripheral depending flange 27. The rib 23 defines an at taching portion 28 which is substantially planar and which has formed therein a forwardly opening U-shaped cut or lance 29 which defines an attaching car 31. The U-shaped lance 29 terminates at its forward ends in inwardly and reversibly turned cut portion 32 which are disposed in transverse opposed relations. The attaching ear 3] is formed with an opening through which the rivet 18 of the associated can 10 passes.

It is to be noted that the rib 23 completely extends about the forward portion 19 so that the peripheral depending flange 27 at the forward end defines a nose which overlies the score line 16. Thus, when the pull tab 17 is tilted upwardly; the flange or nose 27 is operative to sever the score line 16.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided to prevent rotation of the pull tab 17 to maintain the nose in alignment with the score when the tab 17 is in the normal position shown in FIG. 3 and to the inclined position shown in FIG. 4. To this end, the attaching ear 31 and the attaching portion lying on opposite sides of the bight portion of the lance 29 are formed with opposing semicircular slots 32 and 33 respectively. Projecting into the slots 32 and 33 is a dimple 34 which is formed in the removable panel portion 15 so as to extend upwardly.

The dimple 34 as shown in FIG. 3 is in engagement with the opposing slots 32 and 33 and serves to prevent rotation of the pull tab 17 so that the nose 27 remains aligned with the score line 16 along which the removable panel portion is severed. Upon tilting the attaching portion 28 with the slot 32 formed therein is elevated above the dimple 34 and disengaged therefrom. However, the slot 33 in the car 31 remains engaged with the dimple 34 so that the pull tab 17 is restrained against rotation upon tilting and during initial severance of the removable panel portion 15 as shown in FIG. 4. Accordingly,

it should be readily apparent that the dlimple 34 prevents rotation of the tab 17 about the rivet l8 and thereby assures that the nose or flange 27 is always in its proper position for achieving severance of the removable panel portion. To completely remove the removable panel portion 15, an upward force is applied on the finger grip portion 20 so that the entire removable panel portion may be torn out by separation along the score line 16.

It is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the disclosed pull tab mounting arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

I. An easy opening container comprising an end closure, a continuous weakening line formed in said end closure defining a removable panel portion, a pull tab having a forward portion including a weakening line severing nose and a finger grip portion rigidly connected to said forward portion, said forward portion having an attaching panel portion including a substantially U-shaped lance defining an attachment ear, attaching means fastening said attachment ear to said removable panel portion, so that said pull tab is tiltable about said attachment ear, a pair of opposing open ended slots formed on opposite sides of said lance in said attachment ear and said attachment panel, and a dimple formed in said removable panel and projecting into said opposing slots for preventing rotation of said pull tab about said attaching means and maintaining said weakening line severing nose aligned with said weakening line.

2. The invention as defined in claim ll wherein said fastening means comprising a rivet formed integral with said removal panel.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said slots are generally semicircular. 

1. An easy opening container comprising an end closure, a continuous weakening line formed in said end closure defining a removable panel portion, a pull tab having a forward portion including a weakening line severing nose and a finger grip portion rigidly connected to said forward poRtion, said forward portion having an attaching panel portion including a substantially U-shaped lance defining an attachment ear, attaching means fastening said attachment ear to said removable panel portion, so that said pull tab is tiltable about said attachment ear, a pair of opposing open ended slots formed on opposite sides of said lance in said attachment ear and said attachment panel, and a dimple formed in said removable panel and projecting into said opposing slots for preventing rotation of said pull tab about said attaching means and maintaining said weakening line severing nose aligned with said weakening line.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprising a rivet formed integral with said removal panel.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said slots are generally semicircular. 